UPY 2024

UPY  Marine Conservation - Commended
'Turtle Haven'
Theresa Guise

Thirty turtles basking in a sunny bay is not a common site. We stumbled upon this large group soaking up the sun in the bay of Punta Vincente Roca, while returning from a dive to photograph the mola mola. The tiny bay was so thick with Galapagos green sea turtles that they clumsily bumped into each other. With only a few minutes to take some images, we slid into the water and began shooting. These beauties were not what we set out to photograph earlier, the shy mola mola in the dark, cold morning. Instead, we witnessed a stunning example of successful marine conservation. The Galapagos Marine Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is one of the largest marine protected areas in the world. The diverse population of ocean life thrive in this protected space. Turtle haven illustrates why we must protect the ocean and make it a life-long commitment.

Judge's comment: As the popular Johnny Mercer song from 1944 says: You’ve got to accentuate the positive, Eliminate the negative, And latch on to the affirmative, Don’t mess with Mister In-Between. Mr Mercer was obviously ahead of his time.
- Peter Rowlands